Frutt-gatherer



No. 606,682. I Patented July 5, I898. n. H. PEARCE & L. ARBAUGH.

FRUIT GA:THEBER. (Application filetl May 8, 1894) (NoM odel.)

INVENTORS,

WITNESSES A ttarney Mam 'rHE' NoRRls PETERS 00., PHOTO LITHOH WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES DANIEL n; PEARCE AND LEONARD ARBAUGH, or ARnAUeionio.

FRUlT-GATHERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,682, dated July 5, 1 898.

Application filed May 8, 1894. Serial No. 610,559. (No model.)

T on whom it may concern;-

Be it known that we, DANIEL H. PEARCE and LEONARD ARBAUGH, of Arbaugh, in the county ofVinton and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Fruit-Gatherer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of fruit-gatherers designed for application to or support adjacent to a tree for the purpose of receiving the fruit as it falls from the tree.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our complete device in position'of-use around a tree. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the, fruit receiving and gathering 'apron in position for use. Fig. 3 represents in detail and" partly broken away oneof the apron-supporting braces and a i a portable device which may be readily transbrace-stay connected. Fig. at represents the apron-suspending rod. Fig. 5 represents the grab-hook. Fig. 6 is a detail View of the collar or neck of the apron.

The-object of this invention is to produce ported from place to place and placed around and removed from fruit-trees whereby by simply shaking or j'arring'the trees the fruit may be expeditiously gathered therefrom and conveyed to suitable receptacles without either bruising or otherwise injuring the fruit, and whereby also the risk of accident to the person gathering fruit when climbing a tree is .avoided.

In carrying our invention into effect we construct-a fruit-catching apron B of any suitable size, according to requirement, and of any suitable material, as canvas, and of any desired shapesuch, for instance, as shown in the drawings, of octagonal shapeand usually, as indicated in dotted lines, of a series of connected sections, a binding-cord a beinginserted within and around the circumferential edge of the apron tostiffen the same at that part. The section '0 of. the apron l5 and the corresponding portion-of the conical neck or collar A, which extends upwardly flOlllhllG center of the apron and embraces the trunk of the tree and also assists in main taining the apron in position, are slit or divided to form ano 'icning'whereby the collarand apron may be readily placed in position, as shown in Fig. 1, around a tree and when desired removed therefrom. At the outer end 'of the meeting edges h of the divisional portion of the section 0 are secured a pair of edge of the neck or collar are also'a pair of parallel lacing-hooks j. Intermediately of .these hooks z and j are secured to the edges h an alternating series of lacing-hooks is.

(Z represents the lacing-cord by means of which the edges h of the section 0 and of the neck or collar Aare secured together, the upper end of said c ordd being incased in ahem in the top of the collar, and'from'thencesaid cord passes to and around the parallel pair of hooks j and is thence carried in zigzag direction around the hooks k to, and finally secured to, the .outer'pair of parallel hooks '1 thereby securely fastening the apron and collar in position.

m represents a circular hole or opening formed in the canvas or apron at the base of the neck or collar A, to and through which the fruit falling upon the apron rolls and discharges, by reason of the concavity of the apron, as. shown, to and through a curved spout b, of any suitable materiah a's heavy canvas or ducking, the upper end of which spout is secured to the apron so as to surround said discharge-opening m, its lower portion depending therefrom in curved contour, as shown, so as to gently and slowly discharge without injury the frnit passing therethrough into barrels,-baskets, or other receptacles placed beneath said spout.

2 represents ajseries of braces forsupporting the apron Bat its outer edges and raising said edges, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to give to the apron a concave contour,whereby the fruit as it falls on said apron will automatically gravitate to the discharge-gpening'm. These braces may be of anydesiredsize, shape, and material.

at their lower ends for ready insertion in the ground. At their upper ends these braces are provided with eyes 0, by means of whichthey have hinge connection to the cordstrengthened hem p of the apron by staples These braces extend angularly inward from the outer edge of the apron, their degree of angularity, which isreadily adjustable, reg- In the drawings they are' shown as of wood. with metal sheathing or point itor their equivalent straddling said hen1.'

parallel lacing-hooks '5, while at the upper too zugczzsrm of and Mail" ed 6 01.1w ex- Lh the central r011 and EL disof said 0011211, :1.

0d ml con nee-ted with. the he new.

1, secured to 70 lgc 01 said V o engage t a. imumcd prongcd gl'zzb- 75 min :wmn

Laps-rim .mspcn L (:1 4mm" 1:5 maximum,

'al w ul'ved sp( L m1? our invention, wim,

ml to the under face of Juli? central portion, a slit grasp g bmcus f of the braces 80 1 with the 061% 2H 01" :mchor-plns p!v h Hm lower ends 

